Have you ever worked with someone for years but didn’t know how truly special they were until after they have left the building? We believe that’s how many members of the Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) community will feel after they read this story about Deborah Bradshaw.

Bradshaw, whose married name is Bartley, was the director of Performing Arts on the Cumberland campus from 2005 until she retired in 2024. Before she sashayed her way to work for the College, Bradshaw performed in some of the biggest shows on Broadway. She also did tours with heralded actors and actresses of a time gone by.

The Charlotte, North Carolina native earned her bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre from Appalachian State University which is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. She received her master’s in Educational Theater from New York University.

Bradshaw was born to sing.

“I always loved to perform from the time I was little and was always the singer at school – in high school and junior high school,” she said. “I was doing a lot of performing all those years and I just knew I wanted to move to New York City and be on Broadway.

“That was my dream. That was what I was going to do, and I didn’t give myself any other out.”

Before she made it to New York, Bradshaw performed with a famous mustachioed actor. “I actually got my Actor’s Equity Card, which is a professional actors union membership card in 1980 working for Burt Reynolds at his theater in Florida,” she revealed.

Although she “was always the sort of second banana” in shows, Bradshaw's singing talents afforded the opportunity to grace many stages.

“I did ‘Les Miserables’, the original premier national company, and then I went into the Broadway company,” she said. “I also did ‘Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.’ I did a few years at Radio City as ‘Mrs. Claus and the Christmas Spectacular.’ I did a lot of carousels, ‘Sound of Music.’”

Bradshaw also travelled across the United States and performed with stars who will be remembered by people of a certain age.

“I did a national tour ‘Fiorello!’ With Tom Bosley who was Mr. Cunningham on ‘Happy Days’,” she revealed. “I did national tours of ‘Sound of Music’ with Debbie Boone. She was great.”

A twinkle sparkled in her eyes when asked if performing on Broadway is as magical as it seems.

“You have to look at it as a job. You’re taking care of yourself to give this performance every night,” she said. “You have to be on top of your game at all times. It’s work. It’s discipline. So, every night, you tell yourself, no matter how tired you are, this is my dream. This is what I wanted to do and it’s really exciting.

“The magic comes in the minute you walk in that door, and you just go, ‘Okay, here we go.’ It’s wonderful in that it’s something you’ve wanted to do since you were a little girl.”

Bradshaw called the audience’s reaction to her performances “the icing on the cake.” “They are excited. They are elated. They are touched,” she said. “You feel it as well. To have somebody say, ‘Wow, [I] was really moved by that performance’ – that’s awesome.”

After living and working in Manhattan for 20 years, Bradshaw was ready for a change. She brought her magical energy to the Cumberland campus to share the knowledge she gained with her students.

“The one thing I tell them from the get go, something my dad always told me, is luck is opportunity prepared,” Bradshaw said. “You are the CEO of you, and you are in charge of your discipline. Your self-discipline is what will take you to not just the next level, but every level. Believe in yourself no matter what.”

Bradshaw’s former students raved about her teaching style.

“[She] possesses this quality of seeing the potential in each person,” said Meagan Haddock, who graduated with the Class of 2017. “She sees what each person needs to give their best performance and provides a safe space for them to get out of their comfort zone to try new techniques without judgement.”

“She introduced me to authors and acting methods that I didn’t previously know about, expanding my knowledge and helping to enhance my acting skills,” said Abby Mathis, sophomore, Acting major. “She made sure to try and make her lessons fun; we played a lot of improv games, and who doesn’t like

In addition to her acting and singing talents, Bradshaw is also an accomplished director. She received the Excellence in Directing from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in 2010 for “The Odd Couple”; the Best Non-Equity theatre company Producer/Director award from Broadway World.com in 2014; the Perry Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical/Director for “Les Miserables” in 2014, plus more.

Bradshaw was also inducted into the NJACT Perry Award Hall of Fame in 2018. “I was very honored to receive that,” she said. “It’s a great feeling.”

The Hall of Famer’s fondest memories of working at the College are directing shows in the theater of the legendary, Guaracini Center.

“There’s something to be said for being needed for one thing, but to be able to help someone find a character or help them find their voice … that’s magic to me,” Bradshaw said. “I can say 'Oh! They nailed it! They finally got there.'”

In retirement, the natural-born singer and director rode off into the sunset, literally, with husband Kevin – who Bradshaw called the “unsung hero of this whole story” – and two golden retrievers as they packed up and moved to Florida, the Sunshine State. There she will work with one of her former students, Steven Calakos, who asked her to be on the Gulfshore Playhouse’s advisory education committee.

Jackie Sandro-Greenwell believes Bradshaw's legacy should be the amazing shows she produced on the Cumberland campus.

“She was a performer on Broadway, so her productions were top notch from choreography, singing to set design…and of course the acting by her students, staff and members [of] the community,” she said.

“But also, her exemplary devotion, dedication, love and support that she gave to each and every one of her students. She was so dedicated to the students and their work. Helping, advising and encouraging them during their time at RCSJ and after they had graduated. I know she’s had a great impact and influence on the lives of so many of our students … even now.”

Haddock, who is a character performer at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, echoed Sandro-Greenwell’s sentiments.

“Deb Bradshaw has made a huge impact on my life. She has changed it for the better,” Haddock said. “She believed in me and my talents the first day I met her. Without her encouragement and guidance, I would not be the performer I am today, nor would I be in the entertainment industry at all.

“I still speak with her to this day, and we are very close friends. I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done for me.”

There you have it – Deborah Bradshaw in a nutshell. On behalf of RCSJ, we’d like to say thank you for gracing our College with your presence and for being you. End scene.

For information about Rowan College of South Jersey programs, visit RCSJ.edu​.